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Amir in Pakistan squad to tour NZ
Posted On Jan 05 2016
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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White said he is comfortable with the selection of convicted spot-fixer Mohammad Amir in Pakistan’s one-day worldwide and Twenty20 squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Amir was released from a young offenders’ institution in Weymouth in February 2012 after serving half of a six-month jail sentence for spot-fixing.
T20 squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Aamer Yamin, Umar Gul, Umar Akmal, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Amir.
Pakistan will play three T20s and as many one-dayers in New Zealand from January 15 to 31.
Starting by playing domestic cricket in Pakistan, Amir went on to feature in the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League following which he was included in the national training camp in Lahore.
It’s been a fairy tale for 23-year-old Pakistan’s fast bowler Mohammad Amir as he is selected in limited overs for the tour of New Zealand.
The fast bowler was only 18 when he handed a five-year ban from cricket in 2011 for his involvement in spot fixing.
Rasheed said that Amir’s case has been forwarded to the New Zealand consulate and that his visa process will begin after the New Year’s holidays. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), though, is confident that they won’t have any issues regarding that.
Mohammad Hafeez, another senior player who expressed reservations about playing with Amir, is part of both the ODI and Twenty20 teams.
He said that Amir’s comeback was possible only because of his truthful nature unlike the other two (Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif).
“We also informed the court that Amir will play under the microscopic eyes of the ICC (International Cricket Council) and the PCB”, said Rizvi.
Ali also tendered his resignation Monday in protest, but it was rejected by Pakistan Cricket Board.
Azhar and former captain Mohammad Hafeez had initially refused to join the camp before opting to return.
